Vermilion Bird

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Great War and Seclusion

Vermilion Bird fought in a great war alongside a previous master, who wielded the Crimson Flame Sword formed from his Li Fire. He sustained lasting injuries and eventually recuperated in egg form within a hidden cavern. By the time White Tiger found him, he had nearly exhausted the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and had absorbed the secret realm's remaining Law Artifacts and Spirit Plants 11 12 25.

He had known White Tiger before their thousand-year separation and also recognized the name and appearance of Xiao He, an ancestor of Xiao Linyu. His memories of Taotie were those of a scheming enemy, reflecting the longstanding opposition between the cultivation world's divine beasts and the Devil Domain's ferocious beasts 11 25.

Contract with Tang Yao

White Tiger persuaded Vermilion Bird to leave seclusion by revealing that Tang Yao possessed a rare chaos spirit root and arguing that her future opportunities would help his injuries heal. After Tang Yao supplied fire Spiritual Qi and blood to his egg, he hatched and formed an equal contract with her. The resulting power raised her from middle-stage Foundation Establishment to great perfection, while his innate Li Fire expanded her meridians and strengthened her body 11.

White Tiger then tricked him into accepting “Little Red” by pretending that adopting “Little White” would be an equally new concession. Vermilion Bird agreed without knowing White Tiger already used that nickname 11 12.

He helped Tang Yao and Chu Song locate Chi Wang, concealed Tang Yao's presence during their ambush, and supplied Li Fire that tore through Chi Wang's protective flames. He subsequently guided them to Jiang He and used his final available wisp of fire to save her from a Demon Beast 12 13.

Tang Yao spent nearly all her exchange points on twenty fire spirit mushrooms for his recovery. After teaching her to cultivate their spores, he ate the mushrooms and entered a prolonged sleep; two days later, he still did not answer her calls 14 18.

Fusang Flower Incident

Vermilion Bird interrupted his recuperation upon discovering that Tang Yao had also contracted Taotie. In the dungeon, he identified the long-vanished Fusang Flower, proposed destroying it to escape, and revealed the Crimson Flame Sword. When a devil sword subsequently contracted with Tang Yao, he burned it with Li Fire and warned both newcomers to behave 25.

He carried Tang Yao and Xiao Linyu away from the valley master's hall, then fought the valley master and his Medicine King Gourd while Tang Yao attacked the corrupted Fusang Flowers. He also held back the demonized inhabitants. When the Medicine God's soul form injured Tang Yao, Vermilion Bird rushed to her side, prompting the weakened enemy to flee 26 27.

After their return to the Fusang Secret Realm, Vermilion Bird appeared in an older human form and announced that some of his ancient injuries had healed. Although he initially demanded secrecy about his emergence, he supplied Xiao Linyu with an undying Li Fire flame to cleanse the Beast Taming Sect's infected disciples 28.

Protection and Investigation

Vermilion Bird carried Tang Yao to the Azure Cloud Sect and warned her that an unmodified spirit-root test could expose her unusual talent or have it mistaken for a useless root. He later detected an unpleasant medicinal scent on Mu Shixue and cautioned Tang Yao against being caught in her possible Qi deviation 29 30 36.

During the Qi Household ambush, he repelled five Golden Core cultivators and urged Tang Yao to stop suppressing her spiritual power. He then maintained a wall of Li Fire while she began her Golden Core breakthrough, allowing her to turn the lightning tribulation against the attackers 42.

At the Tang Household, he concealed Tang Yao's presence and opened a gap in the Third Elder's courtyard barrier. When Shushu subsequently sheltered them in her space, he challenged the artifact spirit's evasive explanations and pressed her to reveal the actual method of entry 46 47.

Appearance

• Bird form: Scarlet plumage with wings as brilliant as flames. He can become an enormous bird or shrink to approximately crane size while carrying Tang Yao 26 29.
• Initial human form: A boy appearing five or six years old, with long red-and-black hair, golden eyes, and a red mark between his brows. He is half a head shorter than White Tiger at their reunion 11.
• Recovered human form: Appears thirteen or fourteen, with crimson hair falling straight to his waist 28.
• Manifestation: Frequently enters or leaves Tang Yao's Divine Sense as a streak of red light or flame 12 25 46.

Personality

Vermilion Bird is proud, quick-tempered, and easily provoked by White Tiger. He responds to teasing with threats and displays of Li Fire, yet is straightforward enough to fall for the nickname wager. Tang Yao later finds him similarly receptive to her argument that enjoying someone else's resources is better than spending their own 11 34.

He is possessive of his place beside Tang Yao and resents discovering additional companions acquired during his sleep. Taotie and the devil sword particularly offend him because they belong to the opposing side and occupy the residence he painstakingly created in her sea of consciousness. After discovering Shushu, he demands that Tang Yao consult him before accepting anyone else 25 26 43.

His complaints do not prevent him from protecting Tang Yao or opposing Devil Qi. Despite the risk of exposing his incomplete recovery, he refuses to remain uninvolved once hostile forces begin acting and sends his fire to aid the Beast Taming Sect 28 42.

Abilities & Skills

Innate Li Fire

Vermilion Bird's signature flame is both a weapon and a means of suppressing evil 11 25.

• Tears through ordinary protective talisman flames and burns Demon Beasts 12 13.
• Burns away Devil Qi; the flame entrusted to Xiao Linyu does not go out and does not burn his hand 28.
• Cleanses infected Beast Taming Sect disciples, whose treatment Sect Master Yan later confirms 39.
• Forms broad seas and walls of fire capable of temporarily repelling five Golden Core cultivators 42.
• Early restriction: While heavily suppressed, he can use Li Fire only once per day, producing no more than three wisps per use 13.
• Later restriction: Even after partial recovery, his time outside Tang Yao's Divine Sense remains limited 42.

Contract and Divine Sense

His equal contract creates a mental link with Tang Yao and directly strengthens her body 11.

• Communicates privately through Divine Sense and resides within her sea of consciousness 12.
• Supplies Li Fire for Tang Yao to wield herself 12.
• Conjures an elaborate residence within her sea of consciousness 26.

Perception and Divine-Beast Might

He can survey his surroundings and exert pressure over lesser beasts 12.

• Detects the four remaining people in the secret realm and identifies their locations 12.
• Forces every Demon Beast within one li to prostrate itself by releasing his oppressive might 12.
• Detects an unpleasant smell associated with the Fusang Flower and notices a medicinal scent on Mu Shixue 25 36.

Concealment and Barrier Manipulation

He supports stealth by masking both living presences and artifact auras 12 28.

• Conceals Tang Yao's presence from Demon Beasts and during nighttime infiltration 12 46.
• Masks the aura of her appearance-changing Law Artifact 28.
• Finds a barrier's weak point and opens a small passage where Tang Yao cannot force entry herself 46.

Transformation and Flight

He changes between human and bird forms and adjusts his bird form's size 11 29.

• Carries Tang Yao and Xiao Linyu during their escape from the valley 26.
• Shrinks to crane size to avoid attracting attention while transporting Tang Yao to the Azure Cloud Sect 29.
• Uses his tail feathers in direct combat against the Medicine King Gourd 27.

Rebirth Through Fire

If forced into a sufficiently dangerous confrontation before recovering, he can be reborn through fire and return to egg form. He regards this as a last resort because it would require another few thousand years of seclusion 28.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Crimson Flame Sword — Ranked third among swords and formed from Vermilion Bird's own Li Fire rather than existing as an independently discoverable weapon. It restrains evil and was wielded by his previous master during the great war. Tang Yao's Innate Sword Bone strongly attracts it 25.
  • Its initial allowance is two hours per day, counted from the moment it is drawn; Tang Yao can use it even while Vermilion Bird is secluded 25.
  • Its flames suppress the Devil Qi afflicting Mu Shixue during the new disciple tournament 40.
• Fire spirit mushrooms — Fire-attribute nourishment used for his recuperation. He teaches Tang Yao to grow their spores on spirit wood using Wood and Fire Spiritual Qi 14.

Relationships

• Tang Yao — Equal-contract partner and protector's charge. She funds his recovery, while he supplies fire, advice, transport, and protection. He insists on being consulted before she gains further companions 11 14 28 43.
• White Tiger / Little White — Longtime acquaintance and teasing rival. White Tiger persuades him to contract with Tang Yao and engineers his acceptance of “Little Red” 11 12.
• Taotie / Little Kui — Former enemy turned fellow contracted beast. Vermilion Bird distrusts and intimidates him, but later credits him with helping heal old battle injuries 25 28.
• Devil sword — Resented fellow companion whom he disciplines with Li Fire. Tang Yao explicitly orders the sword to obey him 25 26.
• Shushu — Artifact spirit whose arrival renews his complaints about Tang Yao's growing entourage. He suspects her of withholding useful abilities and forces more truthful answers from her 43 47.
• Xiao Linyu — Descendant of his old acquaintance Xiao He. Vermilion Bird entrusts him with Li Fire to take back to the Beast Taming Sect 25 28.
• Previous master — Unnamed partner who wielded the Crimson Flame Sword during the great war 25.

Notable Quotes

“It doesn't matter! Since they've started making their move, I won't stand by and do nothing.” 28

“Anyway, no more from now on! Or ask me first!!” 43

“Well? I'm your most capable contracted companion!” 46